“Too many American women live in fear of the very people upon whom they depend for love and affection. Instead of providing refuge, the walls of many homes serve as prison bars.” — Janet Reno, former U.S. Attorney General
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Volume 87 • Issue 11
Ebony Steel is Still Standing: A Survivor’s Story
“I’ve always taught females that at some point in their lives they have to spread their wings, take a risk on faith and grow — no matter what!” -Ebony Steel | Page 2
October 23-29, 2014
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COVER STORY
Ebony Steele Speaks on How She’s ‘Steele Standing’ By Terry Shropshire
Ebony Steele is sweet enough to overdose a honey bee. If she weren’t so universally beloved in the urban community, it would drive you nuts to see just how upbeat she always seems to be, how funny she is, how self-effacing she — and, most importantly, just how strong she is. Don’t let that infectious smile, charismatic personality and her front-porch warmth get you twisted. Just beneath the surface of her cocoa-coated countenance is a willpower and a burning love for life that is as strong as, well … steel. It was that “Steele” will, as she likes to term it, that enabled the vivacious and versatile radio and TV personality to overcome breast cancer when she was diagnosed at the tender age of 35 with the disease, seven years ago. And it is this same cast iron will that propelled the comedienne, voice-over artist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and former model back to the cultural forefront when her magic carpet ride of a radio career crash and burned. Or so it seemed. Urban America’s favorite girlfriend recently hosted the “Steele Standing” Cupcake and Champagne Celebration at the heavenly Roche Bobois in Buckhead, an intimate and celebrity-filled affair where she toasted to the latest and most exciting chapter of her life — the one that is just now starting. “I’m here at the Roche Bobois where we are celebrating the unveiling and relaunch of my website, EbonySteele.com, the lifestyle website where you can find out everything that Ebony Steele is doing, what’s going on, what you should be doing, what you need to know about and all of that.” Steele, looking regal in a peach-colored gown that offsets her jet-black hair cascading down her shoulders, almost seems unaffected and unscathed by the tumult that erupted several months ago and caused irreparable damage to hers and Rickey Smiley’s former close relationship. With her career on an uninterrupted upward trajectory as a star on the RSMS and “Dish Nation,” Steele’s fans wanted to take out a missing-person’s report as Steele suddenly vanished from the airwaves without explanation. Steele talked about how she emerged from the rubble of that implosion while proffering advice to her fans on how to deal with life’s setbacks. “I would say, it’s not if adversity is going to happen, but when. And the only question is, are you prepared for it? And that’s why it’s so important to remain loyal and true to who you are have faith. I call it an internal boot camp. It’s just like when you’re in the military and you go through boot camp just in case war breaks out. Well, I had to pull from those things that have helped me in my life [when times got tough]. I had been working since I was 15 and I had never had adversity on the job before, especially when I thought that I was doing a great job. So it was very, very stressful. So I want to thank all my fans and all the people who have kept up with me. You have been my inspiration. I didn’t know just how many people I’ve been able to touch over the years.” Steele calls that episode in her life, when she had to deal with breast cancer, her personal boot camp.
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“It’s just like when I had breast cancer. At first I didn’t know if I wanted to come out and be open about it,” she began, looking pensive as a somberness permeates the room we’re in. Steele quickly discerned in her spirit that this journey through breast cancer was one of her “life’s callings.” “When I started in radio, I said to myself, ‘Okay, Ebony, you’re funny; you’re this and that’,” she began. “But I felt like my purpose was incomplete,” until she found that she had a national platform to fight breast cancer. “When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I must be honest and tell you that I was embarrassed, I thought it was an old, white woman’s disease,” she said. ““And I knew that my purpose was not just to be on radio and hee-hee and ha-ha. It was to inform women about something that is real.’ Because breast cancer isn’t what kills people,” Steel continued. “It’s undetected, undiagnosed breast cancer that kills women.” “I tell you, seven years ago, I didn’t’ feel like this. I didn’t look like this. I don’t care if you take pictures. My [breasts] may look a little off. They may look a little shifty. But this is me, this is my life and I feel great about it,” she said to thunderous applause coupled with quiet sobs. “I am still standing here as a seven-year breast cancer survivor.” Now, as she moves forward in her life, the public and media still want to know what happened to suddenly sour her relationship with fellow comedian Rickey Smiley. But Steele gently rebuffed any intrusive inquiries into the internal politics of the radio show, closing the book on the matter by quoting one of the wise elders in her life. “My grandmothers always told me; if you can’t say anything good about somebody, then don’t say anything at all.” The split from the “Rickey Smiley Morning Show,” however, did provide Steele with the opportunity to fully immerse herself in her first love: performance dance. Steele had already fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams when she became the artistic director of her own dance company, Ebony Arrington Dance & Performance, Inc., a Birmingham, Ala.-based dance studio and company that boasts three locations and a roster of over 400 students. Ebony credits her inspiration to pursue both professions in radio and dance to her grandmother, Flora McGhee, founder of Birmingham’s first black-owned modeling school. So after years of being based in Alabama, Steele has the artistic freedom and wherewithal to bring that love of performance dance to Atlanta.
“One of the things that people know about me is that I love love music and love dancing,” said Steele, an Alabama native who earned her mechanical engineering degree at Tuskegee University. “We held auditions to find the best dancers in Atlanta. You can call it New York meets Vegas. And we have a performance on Oct. 28 at the Aloft hotel in Midtown Atlanta in the living room.” Steele also gave out a few subtle hints about what else might be on the horizon when she first departed her radio gig: “I am going to do something that I have always wanted to do and it involves expanding my entrepreneurial interests. I’ve always taught females that at some point in their lives they have to spread their wings, take a risk on faith and grow — no matter what!” she said. “Now it is my turn to lead by example. It is equally exciting that I am likely going to be able to pursue my dreams right within the same radio family. It is my vision that my new endeavors will allow me continued contact with you, my loyal fans.”
October 23-29, 2014
Atlanta Daily World
Founded August 5 1928; Became Daily, March 12, 1932 W.A. Scott, II, Founder/Publisher August 5, 1928 to February 7, 1934 Published weekly at 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta Mailing Offices. Publication Number 017255 POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Atlanta Daily World, 100 Hartsfield Centre Parkway Suite 500 Atlanta, Georgia 30354 Subscriptions: One Year: $52 Two Years: $85 Forms of Payment: Check, Money Order, VISA American Express, MasterCard MEMBER: Associated Press Atlanta Business League Central Atlanta Progress Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce National Newspaper Publishers Website: www.AtlantaDailyWorld.com Roz Edward
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NEWS
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October 23-29, 2014
Ebola Screenings Begin at Hartsfield Airport Wells Fargo Donates
The promised extra screenings for the Ebola virus have been implemented for international passengers arriving at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport from West African nations, airport officials say. Passengers from Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone — the three nations being
ravaged by this deadly and contagious disease — as well as Lagos, Nigeria began undergoing extra screenings on Thursday, Oct. 16. Passengers traveling from affected countries are required to have their temperatures checked and answering a series of questions regarding their health and activities while
abroad. Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Miguel Southwell told Atlanta City Council the Atlanta airport gets an average of about five passengers from those countries a day, WSB-TV reports. The number has been as high as 15 per day. Moreover, the United States Coast Guard will step in to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection with the screening of passengers, while the Centers for Disease Control will also be stationed at the airport. Other employees are also being trained, including Atlanta Fire Rescue, which is called upon to respond to reports of people ill at the airport. “Anyone suspected of having contracted the virus, will be detained and workers will immediately don protective suits,” Southwell said. The infected person will not be paraded through the airport as to avert a panic. “The airport does not have a special ambulance for Ebola, but if an ambulance is used in such a situation, the vehicle would be treated afterward.
Burrell Ellis Escapes Jail, Case Ends in Mistrial By Terry Ellis
After two weeks of jury deliberations without reaching a consensus on any of the charges in the corruption case against suspended DeKalb CEO Burrell Ellis, a DeKalb County judge declared a mistrial on Tuesday, Oct. 21. Judge Courtney Johnson received the notes from jurors explaining their inability to come to a unanimous decision on any of the 13 counts. On Tuesday, the jury once again told the judge that they could not come to a conclusion, and the judge declared a mistrial. A mistrial is not enough for Ellis to return to work. He had to be found not guilty on all counts. He currently remains on paid administrative leave and continues to enjoy his annual salary of $153,000. Ellis was brought to trial for accusations of theft, coercion, extortion and perjury in trying to shake down businesses by demanding contributions to his reelection campaign or risk losing contracts with DeKalb County. One juror said the closest the jurors came to a unanimous decision was on the extortion charge, where the vote was 11-1. According to attorney Tom Salata, the defense is in a holding pattern until the prosecutors decide whether to retry the case or re-indict it. If they don’t, the indictment can technically linger for years. So it’s likely the defense would file a motion to quash the indictment, allowing him to return to work as CEO. DeKalb District Attorney Robert James said
Ellis lied to the grand jury about threatening to cut county contracts and used county time and resources to help his personal campaign. During the testimony, employees from four companies told jurors they felt threatened by Ellis’ efforts to solicit a campaign contribution. Power and Energy Services never received work from Dekalb County again. Two companies, Merrell Brothers and Ciber, withdrew their contracts, the network reported. Interim DeKalb County CEO Lee May, who also makes $153,000, said that state rules require Ellis be paid his salary, even though he is not working, until such time as he is either convicted or exonerated.
$150,000 to Fight Ebola Crisis
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) is donating $150,000 to International Medical Corps to help fight the Ebola crisis in the West African countries of Sierra Leone and Liberia. Since the initial Ebola outbreak in the region in December of 2013, the virus has spread, with more than 9,000 confirmed cases of infection and more than 4,000 deaths. International Medical Corps has been delivering humanitarian support in West Africa since 1999 and is Jimmie Paschall currently deploying medical professionals to treat patients with suspected or confirmed Ebola infection. “Wells Fargo has team members who have family and friends living in West Africa,” said Tim Hanlon, head of Strategic Philanthropy and Partnerships for Wells Fargo. “As Ebola continues to be a concern in West Africa and elsewhere, we feel it is vitally important to support the ongoing efforts to stem the outbreak and to bring relief to those who are direct and indirect victims of it.” International Medical Corps, which was established in 1984, is a global humanitarian nonprofit organization that works to relieve suffering and save lives through health care training, relief, and development programs. With headquarters in Los Angeles and offices in Washington, D.C., London, and field offices in more than 30 countries, the global first responder has delivered more than $1.8 billion of assistance in more than 70 countries over 30 years. Team members from the Wells Fargo Black/African American Connection are researching opportunities to assist communities with family members affected by the Ebola epidemic. B/AA Connection is an enterprise-wide team member network that helps provide insights about the African American segment to influence Wells Fargo’s business strategies and impacts that can make a difference in the community. “Caring is a core part of our culture. We are all concerned about the devastation of this global epidemic,” said Jimmie Paschall, Wells Fargo’s head of Enterprise Diversity and Inclusion. “Our Black/African American team member network was instrumental in recognizing that we as a company could offer some level of support to help make a difference.” “The Ebola epidemic touches all of our team members personally, through family members affected by it, and through concern for those who are on the front line, caring for those affected,” said Lisa H. Robinson, Wells Fargo’s head of Risk Management, Virtual Channels and Enterprise President of the B/AA Connection. “We continue to look at how we can partner and support these efforts through volunteerism and education in our local communities.”
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BUSINESS Acuity Brands Creating 700 Jobs NeighborhoodLIFT® Creates in DeKalb, Rockdale Counties 378 New Homeowners in Atlanta
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October 23-29, 2014
By Terry Shropshire Georgia-based lighting company Acuity Brands announced it will invest $16 million into a new engineering and technology center in suburban Atlanta. Gov. Nathan deal said Acuity Brands, a Georgia-based global leader in lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor applications, will expand its operations that will create 700 jobs in DeKalb and Rockdale counties over the next five years. “When a successful Georgia operation such as Acuity Brands decides to expand its facility and its employment roster, it’s a win for all concerned, especially for our workforce,” Deal said. “I have no doubt that our top-ranked business climate and cutting-edge logistics sector will continue to support Acuity Brands for many years to come, and we look forward to its continued success.” DeKalb County Government Interim CEO Lee May echoed the governor’s sentiments. “DeKalb County and our citizens are proud that Acuity has chosen our county for its engineering and technology center,” he said. “Creating well-paying jobs in our community will stimulate further growth, not just for our citizens and Acuity, but also economic expansion and R&D growth for the industry. We warmly embrace Acuity and welcome them to our community.” Acuity Brands officials will build a worldclass engineering and technology center at a site it owns in Decatur, Ga., and will also invest in facility upgrades at its complex in nearby Conyers, Ga. “We have great people who drive our success and have helped make us the industry leader,” said Acuity Brands president, chairman and chief executive officer Vernon Nagel. “Our goal with these investments is to provide our people with the best work environment possible, and the tools and technologies necessary to drive our future success. We also believe that a world-class workplace and our team-centered culture will help us continue to attract the best talent to come work with us. We greatly appreciate the support of the state of Georgia and DeKalb and Rockdale counties, for their assistance to help make these projects possible.” In the Decatur project, Acuity Brands will
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immediately begin retrofitting an existing 167,000-square-foot building at One Lithonia Way to become its new state-of-the-art Engineering and Technology Center at an estimated cost of $11 million. The building’s completion is scheduled for mid-2015. At the Conyers location, beginning later this year and over the next several years, Acuity Brands will make significant investments in redesigning and retrofitting the four main buildings on its campus. The company has a corporate affiliate office for the Georgia Tech Denning Technology and Management Capstone program and works very closely with Georgia Tech students. Lauren Salas Lambiase, senior project manager at the Georgia Department of Economic Development, assisted the company on behalf of the state of Georgia, along with the Development Authority of DeKalb County, Conyers Rockdale Economic Development and Charles Stallworth at Georgia Power. “It is exciting to be a part of this great business announcement,” said Conyers Rockdale Economic Development Council Chairman Richard Oden. “Acuity Brands has been a strong business partner in Rockdale County, so we look forward to their expanded workforce here because we know that this wise, strategic move spurs our economic growth in many ways. Their employees will shop, live and work here for many years to come.”
Janelle Hall was ready to purchase a home but was concerned about having too much of her income tied up in mortgage payments. An operations manager at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, Hall was about to graduate with a communications degree from Mercer University, and she knew her student loan payments would be coming due soon. She attended a homebuyer education program where she learned there were down payment assistance programs that could help lighten her load. Eventually, she qualified for a mortgage and a $15,000 down payment assistance grant through NeighborhoodLIFT®. She was able to purchase a beautiful three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bathroom home in Adams Park, becoming the last of 378 NeighborhoodLIFT homeowners in neighborhoods all across the city of Atlanta. “Buying this home allowed me to look beyond my current situation and empowered me to improve my financial future,” said Ms. Hall. “And it really means something when you can say you’re a homeowner.” The NeighborhoodLIFT program is a collaborative program from Wells Fargo and NeighborWorks® America. With Wells Fargo providing the funding and NeighborWorks administering the program, NeighborhoodLIFT programs launched since early 2012 have assisted more than 7,500 homebuyers in 28 cities. Wells Fargo has contributed $220 million to the effort. In Atlanta, Wells Fargo committed $8 million to the program, with more than $6 million for down payment assistance. About $2 million was spent on the launch of the program and a separate local initiative – providing $1 million for the city’s Centers of Hope. A total of $1.6 million, including other gifts from Wells Fargo, went to the Centers of Hope. This allowed programming to expand at the centers, which provide after-school programs at community centers emphasizing not just academics but character-building, fitness, and service to surrounding neighborhoods. With the help of Invest Atlanta, which handled homebuyer qualification and approvals; NeighborWorks affiliate Resources for Resi-
dents and Communities (RRC), which provided homebuyer education and counseling; and NeighborWorks Columbus, the nonprofit community lender in the partnership, NeighborhoodLIFT brought new homeowners to neighborhoods across Atlanta. Ernestine Garey, executive vice president of Invest Atlanta, said the program provided help beyond the creation of hundreds of new homeowners, saying “Every new homeowner in a neighborhood is a positive sign and a beacon that shines on everyone else. We are so pleased to have fostered homeownership through NeighborhoodLIFT.” Jill Arrington, RRC’s CEO, pointed out one of the important advantages of the program. “Requiring homebuyer education, one of the things RRC did through NeighborhoodLIFT, has been shown to make homeownership more lasting,” she said. “We are happy to have played our part.” Local program leaders look toward future With nearly 400 new homeowners helped, local architects of the program are pleased at the outcome and looking to the future. “NeighborhoodLIFT has served a great purpose in Atlanta,” said Mike Donnelly, Atlanta region president for Wells Fargo. “It boosted homeownership and helped neighborhoods become more vital at a critical time – after the end of the Great Recession.” Said Donald Phoenix, regional vice president at NeighborWorks America, “This creative collaboration with NeighborWorks America and Wells Fargo broadens the benefits of homeownership to more people like Janelle who are ready for a mortgage, but need a little ‘lift up’ to achieve their dreams of owning a home. The program also provides education and counseling that prepares consumers with the information they need to be a successful owner.” Homebuyer assistance is also still available. A number of housing agencies in the metro area administer down payment assistance programs. Ask your real estate agent or mortgage loan officer for help in accessing them. For the city of Atlanta, get in touch with Invest Atlanta at www.investatlanta.com
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COMMUNITY
Councilmember Natalyn Archibong Seeks Public Input for New Memorial Drive Design Atlanta City Councilmember Natalyn Archibong invites the community to participate in a public information meeting for Imagine Memorial, a design studio project to re-imagine the Memorial Drive corridor in colNatalyn Archibong laboration with the Georgia Tech School of City and Regional Planning. The meeting will be held in the City Hall Atrium, 55 Trinity Avenue, Monday, Oct. 27 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The main presentation is from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. with an open house before and after – providing an opportunity to interact one-on-one with representatives from the design team. During the meeting, members from communities along the Memorial Drive corridor will have the opportunity to review previous master plans developed by the neighborhoods and new data collected by Georgia Tech’s design team and offer input on how to make Memorial Drive better for residents, visitors, and businesses.
“Memorial Drive is exciting,” said Councilmember Archibong. “It is the east-west spine of southeast Atlanta. The neighborhoods along the corridor are being revitalized, residential development on Memorial Drive is accelerating, and construction on the southeast segment of the Atlanta BeltLine is about to begin. People are excited about the transformation of the area and want to be a part of it.” This is the first time the City of Atlanta, MARTA, the Georgia Department of Transportation, the Atlanta Regional Commission, Invest Atlanta, major developers, and business owners have convened in one place to discuss the future of the corridor. “The future of Memorial Drive is going to be one of amazing change,” Archibong said. “Creating a comprehensive vision for the corridor and including everyone in the process ensures a positive outcome. This is a great opportunity for residents and business owners to tell us what they want the future of Memorial Drive to be.” With public input, a comprehensive design plan for the entire corridor will be created to shape future development along Memorial Drive and direct the City of Atlanta, MARTA, GDOT, and ARC on future infrastructure decisions and projects. For more information, please call Councilmember Archibong’s office at (404) 330-6048.
October 23-29, 2014
L5P Halloween Festival and Parade More Fun Than Fright
By Roz Edward For the 14th year running the Little 5 Points Business Association held its annual Halloween Festival and Parade, arguably the best Halloween Parade and Festival in the Southeast. Beginning at noon costumed and guests enjoyed a daylong festival of food, fun and frightful frivolity. The festivities included live entertainment on two stages, great food selections and shopping from local partisans who, along with
the area businesses, provide a wide variety of offerings for festival attendees. “This is by far the best Halloween parade in the region if not the entire country. Think about it, it’s a beautiful parade route, the weather here in Atlanta is almost always outstanding and the people are the best … plus it’s just a great holiday,” said one festival goer and potential tricker treater.
Todd Richards and Francine Reed Featured at Taste of Atlanta By Diane Larche’ With the change of seasons from the summer heat to the cool fall breeze comes the much anticipated Taste of Atlanta. In its 13th year with 90 plus restaurants offering a sampling of their fare, the annual food fest is held in the Midtown area of Atlanta. Thousands will stroll the streets this weekend on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2426 at Tech Square to sample tasty offerings from restaurants serving up international cuisine to southern favorites including barbecue, ice cream and tacos. There will be cooking demos, seminars and a special VIP section with food, cocktails and more than 40 craft beers and wines from around the world. “We’re really looking forward to celebrating the individual neighborhoods of Atlanta and the incredible chefs who make them so delicious,” says Dale DeSena, founder and president of Taste of Atlanta. “This is one of the few festivals that encourages attendees to ‘eat and meet’ with our star chefs through educational cooking classes, interactive seminars and exclusive tastings. It truly is a phenomenal experience for participating chefs, culinary connoisseurs and people who are passionate about food.” This year renowned chef Todd Richards, owner of The Pig and The Pearl Smokehouse and Raw Bar at Atlantic Station will give a spare ribs demonstration on Saturday, and is competing in the barbecue ribs competition on Sunday. His restaurant will have a booth
serving samples of coffee rubbed lamb ribs. “We really want to look at West Africa and their influences on barbecue. Most times they use goat over there but we are using lamb because we can get it out of Virginia and it is pretty local to Atlanta, offers Chef Todd. The celebration kicks off Friday with Culinary Matrimony party and 80s synth pop band Electric Avenue will provide the music. General admission is $70 and $90 for VIP. Highlights in addition to Chef Todd include an appearance Saturday by Chef Kristen Kish, Season 10 Champion of Bravo’s “Top Chef ” and The Big Green Egg Experience hosted by Kevin Jenkins and Chef Erik Holdo of “Chef and The Fatman” radio show. A Sunday Gospel Brunch will feature popular blues singer Francine Reed. Partial proceeds will benefit Georgia Organics, a local nonprofit that connects food from Georgia farms with Georgia homes. Once again Share Our Strength’s Cooking Matters, a program that provides special courses on nutrition food shopping, and budgeting and selection will receive proceeds from the expansive silent auction which will include travel and entertainment packages. General Admission which includes 10 taste coupons is $25 in advance,$35 at the gate. VIP tickets in are $75 in advance and $85 at the gate. Additional taste coupons are available for purchase at $5 per. For tickets visit www.tasteofatlanta.com
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EDUCATION
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October 23-29, 2014
EPA Awards Fellowship Grant to Fox News Says It’s ‘Obvious’ Black Teens Are to Blame for ‘Dangerous’ Neighborhoods UGA Student The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Wednesday, Oct. 21, that Adelumola Oladeinde, PhD at the University of Georgia is one of 105 graduate students across the nation to receive $8.6 million in Science to Achieve Results (STAR) fellowship grants. The grants will be used to conduct research on topics ranging from climate change to public health to water quality, chemical safety and sustainability that will have cross-cutting impacts in the environmental science field. The 105 STAR fellows will receive a maximum funding of $42,000 for one year for master’s students and up to two years for doctoral students. “These fellowships are helping our next generation of scientists and engineers earning advanced degrees in environmental sciences conduct cutting edge research,” said Lek Kadeli, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “Through this support, EPA is ensuring that the United States will have the scientific knowledge to meet future environmental challenges, which will strengthen our nation’s economy and security, while better protecting our health and environment in addition to combating climate change.” This year’s fellowships will support scientists and engineers who are working on research related to mitigating the impacts of climate change on plant communities by transforming the way we restore wetlands, and improving our understanding of where and why harmful algal blooms occur by examining the way nutrients move through river systems. In addition, the grants
will support research to investigate environmental challenges such as the effects of climate change on waterborne human pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria, study the interaction between pollutants and infectious disease, and classify and restore Pacific Northwest streams to improve water quality and fish habitat. Many STAR fellows continue on to find success in the public and private sector focusing their efforts on environmental and public health issues. A 1996 STAR fellow from the University of California, Berkeley, is helping to lead TransForm, an award-winning nonprofit organization working in the San Francisco Bay Area and California; the organization’s campaigns have helped raise over $8 billion for sustainable and socially-just transportation and led to ground-breaking policies linking transportation and land use planning. A 2009 STAR fellow is now studying the chemistry of the lower atmosphere at the Atmospheric Chemistry and Dynamics Laboratory at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center. EPA and other federal agencies place a high priority on supporting Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines through education initiatives unique to their agency’s mission, vision and resources. Next year will mark 20 years of EPA’s commitment to STEM disciplines through funding STAR fellowship students who have made cross-cutting impact in the environmental science field. Since its creation in 1995, the program has awarded fellowships to 1,884 students, totaling approximately $65 million in funding.
By Terry Shropshire This is the kind of person who Fox News loves. An African American conservative from Missouri guested on the Tucker Carlson show to forward the theory that black Democrats, weary and wary of white liberalism and white paternalism and race-pimping inside the party, are beginning to turn toward the GOP as a political safe haven from the so-called do-nothing Dems. Blacksphere executive director Kevin Jackson also told Carlson blacks are turning a deaf ear to black Democratic leaders who are still crying about civil rights violations some 80 years after blacks initially left the Republican Party for the Democratic Party in droves during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration. “It is a sign that there is a kink in the armor here,” Jackson began, according to Raw Story. “And the fact of the matter is, when these people were out protesting, I asked the question, who are you protesting against? When you talk about civil rights violations, when the president is black, the attorney general is black, the head of Homeland Security is black.” “There’s not a white Republican boogey man to blame. So, yeah, it’s about time that these folks woke up and said let’s starting looking at results.” Jackson, who said he lives in a black neighborhood, said he does not fear the police in metropolitan St. Louis but the young black criminal element stalking neighborhoods in search of prey and making the urban communities un
safe. He said that “in most cases in the history of black people, we’ve been touched by other white folks. I’m a perfect example of that, where they’ve done really great things to help you. “So, it isn’t about color, it’s about character, and it’s about people that you culturally mesh with,” he added. “And the unfortunate thing is blacks have taken themselves out and not wanted to be part of the American culture.” Carlson eagerly offered the theory that many black Democrats see Republicans as “racists.” “That is a meme that is unfortunately permeating through the black community,” Jackson, who agreed with Carlson’s sentiments. “But you’re starting to see that crack. Because eventually when you’ve been kept down, and you start seeing the results, eventually you’ve got to wake up.” Continuing on, Jackson added that “black neighborhoods are not safe. And it isn’t because of cops, it’s because of black teens. It’s because of black crime. So at some point, the reality hits you. If you’re running the gauntlet to get to work or to get to school, it’s not cops stopping you, it’s the people in your neighborhood.” Carlson almost gleefully agreed with Jackson’s pronouncements. “You just said something I couldn’t say, that most people couldn’t,” Carlson noted. “We’re living in an age where you’re not allowed to say obvious things, and you kind of have to conform.”
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POLITICS
October 23-29, 2014
Ethics Probe Into Cobb County Conservative Black Chick Blasts Stacey Dash for calling Blacks Chairman Lee’s Braves ‘Uneducated,’ ‘Wothless’ Stadium Dealings
The Cobb County Board of Ethics voted 5-1 to go ahead with an ethics complaint against Commission Chairman Tim Lee over his questionable handling of initial stadium negotiations with the Atlanta Braves. Software designer and Cobb County resident Tom Cheek filed the complaint that Lee blatantly violated ethics by negotiating the deal to move the Atlanta Braves from Turner Field in neighboring Fulton County to a
yet-to-be built stadium via his private email account to prevent an open records request. Cheek also says Lee ignored repeated requests for his open records request and that Lee was wrong to “unilaterally” hire an attorney to negotiate the deal for the county, which will cost nearly $400 million and be built in Cumberland. Lee is confident that he will emerge from the ethics probe unscathed. This is the third ethics complaint on the matter to be brought against Lee, the Marietta Daily Journal reports, with the other two being tossed out. Ethics board members voted during a Tuesday meeting to hold the formal hearing after hearing arguments and presentations and asking questions of both Cheek and Lee’s attorney. If Lee is found to be guilty of the county ethics, he can be reprimanded, but he cannot be fined nor removed from office, the paper reports. Creator of the “Conservative Black Chick” blog, Crystal Wright
Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden Campaign in Georgia With Michelle Nunn
By Terry Shropshire Second lady, Dr. Jill Biden gave a campaign boost to Georgia Senate candidate Michelle Nunn while joining hundreds of volunteers for Hands on Atlanta. Nunn is competing with Republican candidate David Perdue for the right to sit in the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R - Ga.). Biden and Nunn worked on cleaning up a park in downtown Atlanta during an annual service day created by an organization Nunn founded 25 years ago. “We have jobs, we have families,” Biden said, according to the Hill.com. “We have other obligations. The reason Michelle Nunn and a group of friends founded Hands on Atlanta Day 25 years ago is because we all know the value of community service.”
Speaking about Nunn, Biden said she is “someone who is making a difference in Georgia.” Biden’s hopes her appearance helps catapult Nunn past her political adversary. Recent polling reveals that Nunn has come back and is currently running neck-andneck, offering Democrats a rare opportunity to pick up a seat currently held by a Republican.In addition to the service project, Vice President Joe Biden’s wife attended three fundraisers on Monday, Oct. 20 when she was in Atlanta. Nunn said that she formed the service organization Hands on Atlanta two and a half decades ago because “people will always answer the call to service.” “There’s nothing we can’t do, no wrong we can’t right, when we work together,” she said.
By Terry Shropshire It has become obvious to even the most casual cultural observer that conservative groupie Stacey Dash has about as much depth as a sidewalk puddle. The actress, who languishes in utter obscurity when she’s not making banal and moronic statements, was blasted by another black conservative for foolishly saying that all black people in Louisiana were “uneducated” and felt “worthless” under President Obama’s leadership and Obamacare. Appearing on the “Sean Hannity” show, Fox News contributor Dash called all black people in Louisiana listless government freeloaders who subsist on charity and handouts. Sean Hannity asked the Clueless actress — and she is indeed clueless — some leading and loaded questions, and Dash walked right into them like a sheep to slaughter: “Has voting with Obama 95 percent of the time, and Obamacare … has that helped the minority community in Louisiana?” Hannity asked disingenuously. “No, not at all,” Dash said. “It still keeps them stuck. They’re getting money for free. They feel worthless. They’re uneducated. I mean, as long as you are that way, they can keep you under their control …” “They have a plantation mentality,” Dash continued. “As long as they give you this much money, you’ll stay right there. You don’t need to know too much because if you do, you might start thinking for yourself.” Even other black conservatives were shocked and appalled by Dash’s nonsensical nd irrational perspective. Conservative Black Chick blog founder Crystal Wright, in particular, torched Dash for her sheer ignorance in an editorial piece for CNN: Read the excerpt below: “I think Stacey Dash needs to get out more, perhaps visit Louisiana and the rest of America and see that all blacks, myself included, certainly don’t feel “worthless” under Presi-
dent Barack Obama’s administration. “Whether Democratic or Republican, scores of black people — Oprah Winfrey, Allen West, Condoleezza Rice, Ben Carson, Shelby Steele, Bill Cosby, Robin Roberts, and
Stacey Dash many many others — are highly educated, gainfully employed, paying their bills and frankly doing quite well. Dash is one of them. “Many black people may want Obama to provide more productive policies, but to suggest, as Dash does, that blacks are largely “uneducated” and “getting money for free” is a racist narrative that conservatives need to stop perpetuating. That kind of talk is an offensive nonstarter in getting blacks to consider voting Republican. So is the often repeated meme by some black conservatives that blacks “have a plantation mentality. “Whether you’re white or black, it’s never cool to invoke metaphors of slavery, which was a gruesome, painful institution protected by Democrats in America that went on way too long. Conservatives should remind Americans of the history of slavery and how the Democratic Party perpetuates policies of paternalism that don’t benefit blacks.”
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ENTERTAINMENT Pebbles Files $40M Lawsuit Against Viacom Over TLC Biopic
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October 23-29, 2014
By EURPublisher After months of complaining that VH1’s TLC biopic “CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story” made her look less than honorable while managing the trio, Perri “Pebbles” Reid has finally taken legal action against the network’s parent company, Viacom, for what she called “many false and defamatory statements” made about her in the film. The New York Post’s Page Six reports that Reid, who is also a singer and music executive, filed a $40 million lawsuit against Viacom on Friday, claiming the 2013 film portrays her “as a conniving and dishonest business woman who hoodwinked three innocent girls and exploited their talent for her own personal gain,” and alleges that the network “ignored fundamental canons of journalistic and literary conduct by publishing false and defamatory accusations with actual malice.” Pebbles says the film falsely depicts her as pressuring Chilli to get an abortion, pushing T-Boz to put the group ahead of her health, and giving them each only $25/week in allowance. The suit also states that Reid never withheld
the trio’s contract terms, and never controlled their lawyers or accountants, contrary to what is depicted in the film. Since the movie’s record-breaking premiere last October — it proved to be VH1’s mostwatched original movie of all time — Reid has spoken out against the biopic in numerous interviews. She has also released a statement on her website: “First I want to thank all of you for the well wishes and prayers. I apologize for the delay in responding to the movie, but I wanted to gather my thoughts. I have always been a private person and this unprovoked attack has been extremely upsetting to me and my family. I have needed time to spend with my family and for personal reflection. The movie contains many false and defamatory statements and scenes about me. Please know that I have never cheated or misled anyone. I will defend my reputation, accomplishments, and character. My attorney is in the process of demanding a retraction of the false and defamatory statements and scenes about me from VH1”
T.I. Dishes on His Upcoming Role in Marvel Studios’ ‘Ant-Man’ T.I. has been bitten by the acting bug again and will be co-starring in a new major studio superhero film, “AntMan,” along with Paul Rudd and Michael Douglas. Rudd will play the title character Scott Lang and Douglas will play the mentor of the current Ant-Man as Dr. Hank Pym. So will T.I. play a superhero himself? That’s the burning question. He couldn’t reveal too many details about his role in the film, but he did confirm he will be playing “a superhero’s homeboy.” Hmm… It sounds like T.I. could be playing a friend of Lang’s in the Marvel Studios film. No word yet if the character is straight from the comics or created for the film. There’s no word yet if the character will be human or superhuman. Nevertheless, the film underwent rewrites from Rudd and Adam McKay after director Edgar Wright left the project in May due to creative differences with Marvel. Peyton Reed is now directing. Yet the film will be released on Friday, July 17, 2015. And according to IMDB, it’s about con-man turned superhero Scott Lang who helps his mentor Dr. Hank Pym pull off a heist in order to save the world.
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Tyga: I Don’t Like Drake, He’s Fake
Tyga‘s had a few things to say about his Young Money family recently. First, he went on a vented his frustrations earlier this month about not being able to release his new album, “The Gold Album.” Now, he’s letting it be known that he’s not the biggest fan of his Young Money label mates, particularly Drake and Nicki Minaj. The “Rack City” rapper spoke with Vibe and he revealed that he’s not really friends with most of Young Money, and he was forced to like them because they’re on the same label. He’s on Young Money solely for Lil Wayne and not anyone else. Is Young Money a part of the creative process on this album? Nah. I tend to distance myself from them. Are you trying to break out on your own? Yeah, I’m tryna’ go independent. I don’t really get along with Drake. I don’t really get along with Nicki.
Why? I don’t like Drake as a person. He’s just fake to me. I like his music; you know what I’m saying? I think his music is good, but we’re all different people. We were forced together and it was kinda’ like we were forcing relationships together. It is what it is. But I been friends with Chris [Brown] for like six years. That’s my real genuine friend. We hang out all the time. He lives up the street from me, so we don’t just do music we hang. I think being signed to Young Money, everybody felt like they had to force a relationship ‘cause Wayne put us together. At the end of the day the reason why I signed to Young Money is because of Wayne. Not because of Drake, not because of Nicki. It was because of Wayne and my relationship with him. I try to be cool with everybody, but sometimes, everybody just has different personalities, motives, and different characters. When you realize that, you realize that’s not a place where you want to continue to grow.
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SPORTS
Fighters Suing Mayweather Over Vegas Cable Bout AP) — Two fledgling professional fighters in Las Vegas are suing Floyd Mayweather Jr. and producers of a cable TV show, alleging they never consented to be part of a promotional training bout depicted as a “dog house” fight that was supposed to last until someone quit. Hashim Rahman Jr., 23, and younger brother Sharif Rahman, 18, accuse Showtime Networks and Mayweather of profiting at their expense. The lawsuit filed last week in Nevada state court seeks unspecified monetary damages of more than $10,000 from the New York-based network and Mayweather, who goes by the nickname “Money.” Mayweather’s attorney, Mark Tratos, declined to comment. Showtime officials didn’t immediately respond to a message. The lawsuit also accuses Mayweather of lying in testimony Sept. 23 before the Nevada State Athletic Commission about the “All Access” show at his gym. “Defendant Mayweather falsely testified that Hasim’s 31-minute fight did not happen as aired, and that the fighters took several breaks,” the document said. The lawsuit alleges that Mayweather forced Sharif Rahman to fight several rounds lasting five to seven minutes in length and said that if Rahman left the ring, he faced beating by others. “Sharif feared for his safety and was forced
to fight,” the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also says Sharif Rahman didn’t sign a release agreeing to be filmed or having his name used for the show and that Hasim Rahman Jr. fought another boxer for more than 30 minutes with no breaks. The Rahman brothers are the sons of former professional heavyweight boxer Hasim Rahman Sr. Their attorney, Vicki Greco, declined comment about the lawsuit filed Thursday in Clark County District Court. Mayweather was licensed this year as a promoter in Nevada. His attorney, Shane Emerick, told the athletic commission last month that scenes showing cash exchanging hands in bets on the fighting didn’t happen. The boxer and his attorney also discussed the appearance of marijuana on the show. They said that despite “All Access” showing Mayweather at his Las Vegas mansion while marijuana cigarettes are rolled and smoked, Mayweather doesn’t smoke the drug or drink alcohol and wouldn’t be around secondhand pot smoke because it could show up in drug tests. Asked Monday whether commissioners were satisfied with Mayweather’s responses, commission Chairman Francisco Aguilar referred questions to Robert Bennett, commission executive director. Bennett didn’t immediately respond to messages.
Georgia Dome Hosts Super Regional Marching Band Competition
Outstanding high school marching bands from throughout Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia will compete in one of the nation’s most prominent championships, Music for All’s Bands of America Super Regional Championship at Atlanta, presented by Yamaha, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1. The championship event, hosted by the North Cobb High School Orchestra, will feature 40 high school marching bands in the preliminary competition, all of which will be evaluated by a panel of nationally recognized music educators and marching band experts. The top 12 bands will advance to the evening finals competition, which will ultimately name the Super Regional Champion. Ken Stanton Music will be the Official Music Store of the event. “Bands of America Championships are a program of Music for All, which has a mission to create, provide and expand positively
October 23-29, 2014
Serena Williams Rips Olympic Official for Calling Her a Man
Serena Williams of USA talks to the media during previews for the WTA Finals at the ArtScience Museum on October 19, 2014 in Singapore Serena Williams lit into International Olympic Committee member Shamil Tarpishchev after he referred to her and sister Venus as the “Williams brothers.” Williams said of the comments at a news conference Sunday in Singapore: “I thought they were very insensitive and extremely sexist as well as racist at the same time. I thought they were in a way bullying.” Shamil Tarpishchev Tarpishchev, who is also president of the Russian Tennis Federation, made the remark on Russian state TV Friday. During an interview, the host said to Tarpishchev, “I was at the Olympics, where Maria Sharapova was in the final, playing with one, with one of the…” Tarpishchev finished the sentence by saying, “Williams brothers.” There was an immediate backlash. Tarp-
ishchev was fined $25,000 and suspended for a year by the WTA, according to The Guardian. WTA chief executive Stacy Allaster also criticized Tarpishchev saying his comments were “insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place on our sport.” Sharapova condemned Tarpishchev’s comments as well. “I think they were very disrespectful and uncalled for, and I’m glad that many people have stood up, including the WTA,” Sharapova said. Tarpishchev made an official apology Saturday. But for Williams it wasn’t enough. “I’ve done the best that I can do, and that’s all I can say. So I just wasn’t very happy with his comments,” she said. Serena is in Singapore to play in the season-ending WTA Finals tournament, which begin today (Oct. 20). Serena, 34, has won 18 grand slam singles titles. Her older sister Venus has won seven grand slam singles titles.
life-changing experiences through music for all,” according to Eric L. Martin, President and CEO of Music for All. “Active participation in music and arts is a vital part of a meaningful educational experience. The thousands of students who will perform at this championship showcase the dedication, teamwork and mastery required and fostered through music and arts education.” The preliminary competition begins at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31 and will conclude at approximately 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. Gates will open for the finals at 7:00 p.m. with performances beginning at 8:00 p.m. Missouri State University will perform in exhibition at the conclusion of preliminary performances. Liberty University will perform at the conclusion of finals performances. All times are tentative pending the final schedule of performing bands. Current times will be listed at musicforall.org.
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October 23-29, 2014 ANNOUNCEMENT What are you doing & what can you do? Use the Stop Jocking approach. Its a good idea. Read the ebook “Stop Jocking” available through Book Country. The Summerhill, Mechanicsville, and Peoplestown Community Fund, Inc. will accept applications from community-based, nonprofit organizations serving at least one of the three named neighborhoods. Applications available beginning September 15, 2014, at www.smpcommunityfund. org with a deadline of October 30, 2014, at 5 p.m. Persons interested in applying may attend the SMP Fund application workshop: September 30, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Mechanicsville Library Community Room, 400 Formwalt Street, SW, Atlanta, GA 30312. Applicants attending the entire workshop will have three bonus points added to their application score. RSVP for workshop to Grants Administrator, grants@smpcommunityfund.org. Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. (ABI) Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Qualified Urban Agriculture Farmer to lease an ABI farming site. The FULL text of the RFP is found at: http://beltline.org/about/work-with-us/rfps-and-rfqs-2/ Inquiries should be directed to: Meghan Injaychock Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. 86 Pryor Street SW, Suite 300 Atlanta, GA 30303 E-Mai: minjaychock@atlbeltline.org
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Georgia Department of Community Affairs Public notice is hereby given that the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (DCA) is accepting public comments on the Draft 2015 Qualified Allocation Plan (QAP) which sets forth DCA’s process for allocating federal and state resources available for the development of affordable rental housing. Financing sources available through DCA include the Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and the HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME). A copy of the Draft 2015 QAP is posted at the following link: http://www.dca.ga.gov/housing/HousingDevelopment/programs/QAP2015docs.asp All interested parties can submit comment(s) in writing. Please email them to hfdround@dca.ga.gov. Comments must be received by November 11, 2014 for consideration. The Georgia Department of Community Affairs is committed to providing all persons with equal access to its services, programs, activities, education and employment regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, familial status, marital status, or disability. If you need an alternative format or language, please contact Sandy Wyckoff at Sandy.Wyckoff@dca.ga.gov.
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GUEST COMMENTARY
GUEST COMMENTARY
by Thomas Sowell
by George E. Curry
Local or National Elections
Speaker of the House Tip O’Neill once said, “All politics is local.” That may have been true in Tip O’Neill’s day, but some elections are decisively on national issues -- and the Congressional elections this year are overwhelmingly national, just as the elections of 1860 were dominated by one national issue, namely slavery. In 1860, some abolitionists split the anti-slavery vote by running their own candidate -- who had no chance of winning -- instead of supporting Abraham Lincoln, who was not pure enough for some abolitionists. Lincoln got just 40 percent of the vote, though that turned out to be enough to win in a crowded field. But what a gamble with the fate of millions of human beings held as slaves! And for what? Symbolic political purity? This year as well, there are third-party candidates complicating elections that can decide the fate of this nation for years to come. No candidate that irresponsible deserves any vote. With all the cross-currents of political controversies raging today, what is the overriding national issue that makes this year’s Congressional elections so crucial? That issue is whether, despite all the lawless edicts of President Obama, threatening one-man rule, we can still salvage enough of the Constitution to remain a free, democratic nation. Barack Obama will be on his way out in two years but, if he can appoint enough federal judges who share his contempt for the Constitution’s limits on federal government power in general, and presidential powers in particular, then the United States of America can continue on the path to becoming another banana republic, even after Obama has left the White House. President Obama understands how high the stakes are, which is why he is out fundraising all across the country -- seemingly all the time -- even though he has no more elections to face himself. Obama came to power saying that he was going to fundamentally change the United States of America -- and he intends to do it, even after he is gone, by giving lifetime appointments as federal judges to people who share his view that this country’s institutions and values are fundamentally wrong, and need to be scrapped
and replaced by his far left vision. If only Obama’s critics and opponents understood this momentous issue as clearly as he does! The issue is whether “we the people,” as designated by the Constitution, continue free to live our own lives as we see fit, and to determine what laws and policies we want to live under. President Obama’s vision is very different. In his vision, our betters in Washington shall simply order us to live as they want us to live -- telling us what medical insurance we can have, what doctors we can go to, what political groups shall be favored by the Internal Revenue Service, with more of the same coming in the years ahead, long after Obama has left the White House. Critics who deplore President Obama’s foreign policies in general, and his weak response to the ISIS threat in particular, as showing incompetence -- and who see his incessant fundraising as just a weird distraction -- fail to understand how different his priorities are from theirs. Barack Obama understands clearly that his ability to fundamentally remake what he has long seen as a deeply defective and corrupt America in the image of his far left vision depends crucially on having control of the Senate that has the power to confirm his appointments of federal judges with lifetime tenure. His fundraising is key to maintaining the Democrats’ Senate majority. Foreign policy is subordinated to Obama’s overriding ideological vision. The president will not risk losing this year’s Congressional elections by taking military actions that will alienate his political base. Token military actions can minimize the political losses from other voters. That people will die while he stalls on military action is a price he is willing to pay. His ordering thousands of American troops into Ebola-infested Liberia shows the same ideologically driven callousness. The big question is whether those who wish to preserve a free America see the issue and the stakes equally as clearly as Barack Obama does -and see that this is the overriding national issue of our time, with our votes for Senators not to be confused by local issues.
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U.S. Trails More 100 Countries in Voter Turnout Lost in the frenzy to erect barriers to voting, including reducing the hours available for early voting and imposing strict voter ID requirements, is the embarrassing fact that the United States lags behind more than 100 countries in the percentage of registered voters who show up on Election Day.
to early voting cutbacks to voter registration restrictions. Partisanship and race were key factors in this movement. Most restrictions passed through GOP-controlled legislatures and in states with increases in minority turnout,” The Brennan Center for Justice at New York University reported.
The U.S. Ranks 120th with a voter turnout rate of 66.5 percent. That’s well behind No. 1 Australia (94.5 percent) and even behind Guyana (88.5 percent), Belize (80.4 percent), Mozambique (78 percent), Honduras (72.8 percent) and Uganda (70.8 percent).
Today’s efforts to suppress the Black vote mirrors similar actions in the 1800s.
Not surprisingly, countries with compulsory voting, such as Australia, have the highest turnout rates. However, those with such laws and lax enforcement, such as Brazil and Mexico, do not fare as well as Australia. And those that have eliminated compulsory voting, including the Netherlands, reported a subsequent drop in voter participation. The Center for Voting and Democracy says the easier it is to register, the higher the participation rate. “Another country with a highly efficient registration process is France. At the age of eighteen, all youth are automatically registered. Only new residents and citizens who have moved are responsible for bearing the costs and inconvenience of updating their registration. Similarly, in Nordic countries, all citizens and residents are included in the official population register, which is simultaneously a tax list, voter registration, and membership in the universal health system. Residents are required by law to report any change of address to register within a short time after moving. This is also the system in Germany (but without the membership in the health system).” According to the Center for Voting and Democracy, “The elimination of registration as a separate bureaucratic step can result in higher voter turnout. This is reflected in statistics from the United States Bureau of Census, 1982–1983. States that have same day registration, or no registration requirements, have a higher voter turnout than the national average. At the time of that report, the four states that allowed election day registration were Minnesota, Wisconsin, Maine, and Oregon.” Since then, Idaho has changed to allow same day registration. North Dakota is the only state that requires no registration. However, the trend is to erect more barriers to voting. “Since the 2010 election, new voting restrictions are slated to be in place in 22 states. Unless these restrictions are blocked – and there are court challenges to laws in six of those states – voters in nearly half the country could find it harder to cast a ballot in the 2014 midterm election than they did in 2010. The new laws range from photo ID requirements
“Voter registration originated in the early 19th century as a method of disenfranchisement. Many states were concerned with the growing number of foreign-born transients participating in local government, and so they developed a system of registration to ensure that these non-citizens could not vote. While this did disenfranchise transients and the foreign-born, many poor citizens were also not included on the voter rolls; they were often not home when the assessors came by, which was typically during the work-day, so they were not included. Many areas that were largely Democratic rebuffed the registration system, because most of the poor, immigrants, and other potentially disenfranchised groups tended to vote Democrat,” Alexander Keyssar wrote in his book, The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States. He continued, “Near the beginning of the 20th century, other disenfranchisement issues arose, mostly concerning the ability of African-Americans to vote. Laws in the South were designed ‘expressly to be administered in a discriminatory fashion,’ where the validity of a vote due to small mismarks, an arbitrary assessment of a voter’s ‘understanding,’ or other minutia would be subject to the whim of an election official.” Our challenge today is to expand voter participation, not constrict it. As the Center for Voting and Democracy noted, “The United States is one of only a few democracies in the world where the government does not take responsibility for registering voters. Instead, our government leaves the construction of voter rolls up to partisan and non-partisan voter registration organizations, political parties, election officials and active citizens.” It concluded, “Voter registration should be the mutual responsibility of citizens and their government. The government should not only facilitate registration; it should actively register adults who are eligible to vote as part of its responsibility to have accurate rolls. 100% voter registration should be the goal. Moreover, universal voter registration has the potential to bring together conservatives who are concerned about fraudulent voter registrations and liberals who are concerned about anemic political participation.”
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